The National Association for Environmental Management (NAEM) is the largest professional association for corporate environment, health and safety (EHS) and sustainability decision-makers. We are dedicated to empowering our members to advance environmental stewardship, create safe and healthy workplaces, and promote global sustainability.

2016 Corporate Sustainability Management Conference

August 2-3, 2016

Are you responsible for implementing sustainability efforts, or tracking and reporting their results? Is the scope of your sustainability program expanding in all directions? This conference will offer insights that will help you improve your company’s performance internally as well as having better control of your sustainability data at both ends of the supply chain.

Through a mix of peer-led sessions and interactive discussions, this year's conference agenda will address challenges and opportunities in the areas of external reporting, materiality assessments, supply chain management, the energy-water nexus, measuring your impacts, and setting meaningful goals.

Presentations Download the presentations from NAEM’s 2016 Corporate Sustainability Management Conference. This content is available to NAEM members only; you must be logged in as a member to view it. If you are not an NAEM member and wish to join the Association, please contact NAEM at membership@naem.org.

AgendaOpening Keynote - Driving Sustainability Value Beyond the GatesThis session will feature the perspectives from two leaders who are using sustainability to shape business decisions that drive their internal operations and external brand awareness. Hear how Subaru of Indiana has developed partnerships with outside organizations to spread its zero-waste-to-landfill expertise, including benchmarking with over 100 companies. SC Johnson will discuss how its decisions to disclose ingredients and alter beloved products have sent ripples through the company and the broader industry. Get ready to experience the view at the front of the pack.

Sharpening your Sustainability StrategyOver the past several years there has been a shift away from the idea that companies should have a program for every sustainability issue, instead moving toward a belief that companies should focus on the areas where they stand to have the greatest impact. From the release of GRI's G4 protocol to the conversation about using materiality assessments, learn how your peers are getting more strategic on sustainability programs and metrics and driving towards meaningful outcomes.

NAEM Benchmark Discussion – Supply Chain SustainabilityThis interactive session will feature results from NAEM's conference survey, and will look at what efforts companies are making to engage with their suppliers, including who holds the responsibility internally. In addition the survey results, this session will feature case study presentations on how specific companies are evaluating vendors and working with them to make gains on common social, environmental and performance goals. Conference attendees will be sent the survey in advance, and will receive the full set of results afterward.

Sustainability Reporting Trends and StrategiesWhile sustainability reporting is becoming more common, there are still many different approaches to take. Our speakers will explain the strategies their companies have employed to efficiently control the flow of external information, and how corporate disclosure may change in the years to come.

Anisha Ladha, Senior Environmental Engineer; Intel Corp.

Paul Holdredge, Manager, Resource Strategies; General Electric Co.

Advancing Water StewardshipWhile there is increasing agreement on the need to properly account for and manage water, consensus has been missing around what responsible use looks like. This session will explain the Alliance for Water Stewardship's Standard System, which aims to create a common framework for water stewardship, along with companies that are using it.

Matt Howard, Director of Alliance for Water Stewardship - North America; The Water Council

Audrey Templeton, Environmental Engineer; MillerCoors LLC

Special Presentation: Great Lakes and Milwaukee Sustainability InitiativesThe General Services Administration’s Great Lakes Strategic Sustainability Plan 2025 is considered the region’s road map to create and maintain a more sustainable, efficient federal government. This presentation will highlight the five key areas of sustainability - Buildings, Workplace Transformation, Transportation, Supply Chain, and Sustainable Communities - that can help strengthen GSA’s impact in the region, and will encourage discussion on achieving that goal through innovative technologies and practices. Taking a closer look at Milwaukee, the second speaker will discuss the environmental and business initiatives that city is brewing up to encourage sustainable growth.

Ann P. Kalayil, Great Lakes Regional Administrator; United States General Services Administration

Making Sustainability Goals Relevant For All EmployeesWith scores of 2020 sustainability goals having been announced in the past year, it is now time to engage employees at all levels. Join this session to hear how large external goals can be broken down into shorter-term mileposts that grow a culture of sustainability and don't overwhelm your employees.

GRI’s transition to a StandardFind out about the GRI G4 Guidelines transition to be the GRI Sustainability Reporting Standards, and how this will impact your reporting. The transition aims to make the GRI Standards more accessible for reporting organizations and policy-makers, and so to encourage more consistent, higher quality sustainability reporting, focused on material issues.

The Next Generation Of Sustainability Tools And Data AnalysisMore powerful technology and ever-improving software are making it easier than ever to collect and report large amounts of data. So, what's possible now, and what can we expect in the future? Hear from two experts about the new generation of tools at your disposal to sort and dissect data in ways that reveal valuable insights about your sustainability program and company as a whole.

Paul began his career with SHC in 2004 as a Senior Manager, Home Services Business Development. In 2007 he was named Director, Home Appliances Operations, and led the team responsible for executing the federal appliance stimulus programs. He transitioned to overseeing strategic relationships with energy industry partners including the EPA in 2011, and assumed ownership of corporate sustainability in 2012.

Prior to joining Sears Holdings, Paul worked for GE Plastics where he held roles in operations management and Six Sigma quality. He began his career in project management and maintenance reliability as part of Amoco Oil Company's Refining Division.

Paul has a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois where he remains an active member of its Alumni Association.

Alyson Genovese, Head of Corporate & Stakeholder Relations, USA & Canada; GRIAlyson Genovese is Global Reporting Initiative's Head of Corporate and Stakeholder Relations for the United States and Canada. With thousands of reporters in over 90 countries, GRI provides the world's most trusted and widely used standards for sustainability reporting and disclosure.

Alyson is an accomplished professional in the corporate and nonprofit sectors with more than 20 years of experience in corporate social responsibility, public affairs, corporate citizenship, sustainability communications and stakeholder engagement. Her broad range of experience as an internal executive, freelance consultant and trusted advisor makes her an ideal partner for GRI's local stakeholders within North America.

Tom joined Subaru of Indiana Automotive in 1989 as Corporate Counsel, and has been promoted to various positions within SIA. He currently is SIA's Senior Executive Vice President, Secretary and Chief Legal Officer; and a Member of the Board of Directors.

Tom serves as a Director for a variety of organizations, including the: Indiana Chamber of Commerce (Past Chairman), Indiana Automotive Council (Past Chairman), Japan-America Society of Indiana (Past President), IU Health and the National Association of Manufacturers.

He has been a speaker at numerous conferences on legal, business and environmental matters; and has been the recipient of several awards, including the 2009 Excellence in Manufacturing Innovation Award.

Tom holds a Bachelor of Science in Business and a Juris Doctorate from Indiana University.

Taylor Gelsinger, Research Analyst; NAEMTaylor Gelsinger has been with NAEM since 2013. She executes NAEM's research program, specializing in a range of EHS and sustainability topics, including: compliance, environmental information management systems, corporate responsibility reporting, materiality, metrics and professional development. Taylor graduated with a Master of Environmental Management degree in environmental economics and policy from Duke University and a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Oklahoma State University.

Matt Howard, Director of Alliance for Water Stewardship - North America; The Water CouncilMatt oversees The Water Council's sustainability and stewardship initiatives which currently focus on rolling out the International Water Stewardship Standard. Matt has ten years in sustainability program development and management including five years as Milwaukee's Sustainability Director. Matt came to Milwaukee from Washington, DC where he worked at the U.S. Department of Commerce and spent time as a staffer in the U.S. House of Representatives. He has an MA from George Washington University and a BA from Valparaiso University. He is a LEED and Lean Six Sigma accredited professional and currently serves on the EPA's National Advisory Council on Environmental Policy and Technology.

Ann P. Kalayil, Great Lakes Regional Administrator; United States General Services AdministrationAnn Kalayil was named Regional Administrator of the General Services Administration's Great Lakes Region in January 2011.
As the agency's regional chief executive, Kalayil heads operations that provide federal agencies and the U.S. courts in six states with support in vital areas such as real estate services, procurements, information technology, supplies, equipment, and vehicles. Headquartered in Chicago, the region has a workforce of almost 1,000 employees and an annual operating budget of about $450 million.

Before this appointment, Kalayil worked for more than 18 years at the University of Chicago in Information Technology Services, where she worked in Emerging Technologies and Communications but previously was director of Client Services and Support. Kalayil has taught interdisciplinary courses on Asian-Americans at DePaul University, Loyola University Chicago, and the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Kalayil is very active in many community and civic activities dealing with education policy, campaign finance reform, immigration reform, and documenting Asian-American history. As a Leadership Greater Chicago fellow, Kalayil has also served on several government task forces and has participated in many panel discussions on the above issues. She is also co-director of the South Asian American Policy & Research Institute and a member of many community-based organizations. Kalayil's appointment is historic, as she is the first woman to serve as regional administrator of the General Services Administration in this region.

Kalayil received a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Illinois at Chicago, a bachelor's degree in computer science from Northeastern Illinois University, a master's degree in Asian studies from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and a doctorate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Matt Kovatch, Senior Manager - Environment, Health & Safety Governance; AbbVie Inc.Matthew Kovatch currently manages the EHS Audit, Due Diligence and Environmental Sustainability programs for AbbVie. Since 1990, Matt has acquired EHS experience spanning the biopharmaceutical, medical, and petrochemical industries. During his professional career, Matt has worked in manufacturing, R&D, and corporate governance roles. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in bio/chemistry, a Master of Science degree in Environmental Management & Policy, and an MBA specializing in International Business. Outside of work, Matt has served on the Board of Directors for a local community organization, has coached youth athletics, and continues to participate in frequent volunteer activities. He enjoys traveling, being outdoors, and playing acoustic guitar with friends and family.

Rick Love, Manager, Environmental Sustainability; United Technologies Corp.Rick Love is the Manager of Environmental Sustainability at United Technologies Corporation. His responsibilities include collaborating with UTC business units in the development and implementation of formal facility, supply chain and product sustainability goals, peer and other corporate sustainability program benchmarking, environmental impact reduction, public sustainability reporting, and the development of the UTC climate change risk assessment program. Prior to UTC, Rick worked as an environmental programs consultant, including significant experience at the US EPA in the development of US Clean Air Act data management programs. He has a BA from Brown University, and an MBA in strategic planning from the University of Connecticut.

Erick Shambarger, Sustainability Director, Environmental Collaboration Office; City of MilwaukeeErick Shambarger is the Director of Environmental Sustainability for the City of Milwaukee, where he leads the Environmental Collaboration Office (ECO). He was appointed by the Mayor in June 2015. The Environmental Collaboration Office (formerly the Office of Environmental Sustainability) was created by Mayor Tom Barrett to develop practical solutions that benefit Milwaukee's environment and economy. Prior to his current role, he served as Deputy Director for 5 years, and as City Economist before that. Mr. Shambarger oversaw implementation of the Milwaukee Energy Efficiency (Me2) program and the Milwaukee Better Buildings Challenge, chaired the City's Energy Reduction Team to reduce energy use across City operations, and promotes innovative storm water management practices and green infrastructure He oversees implementation of the City's Refresh Milwaukee Sustainability Plan and the Me3 Sustainable Manufacturing program. He holds a Masters of Public Affairs degree from the University of Wisconsin and certificates in Water Technology and Energy Analysis and Policy.

Kelly Semrau, Senior Vice President Global Corporate Affairs, Communication and Sustainability; S.C. Johnson & Son Inc.With more than 25 years of experience, Kelly oversees sustainability actions, public and governmental policy, public affairs, and overall corporate social responsibility on a global and local level for SC Johnson in Racine, Wisconsin. Kelly is also responsible for community leadership and the company's philanthropy efforts and sits on the Board of Trustees as the Vice Chairman and President of SC Johnson Giving, Inc.

A leading provider of innovative consumer products including Windex, Glade, OFF! and Ziploc, SC Johnson is a fifth generation family company with a global workforce of nearly 13,000 employees in more than 70 countries.

In her current role, Kelly leads all global public affairs initiatives for the company and its brands including media relations, crisis communication and sustainability communication. She also leads development and establishment of worldwide government relations policy, strategy and U.S. implementation and oversees community relations and philanthropic contributions for the company. Kelly plays a lead role in issues management for SC Johnson, as well as directing the company's archives, annual report and global website: www.scjohnson.com

As Chief Sustainability Officer, Kelly sets the company's industry-leading agenda on transparency; ingredient disclosure, the SC Johnson Greenlist® process and the commitment to creating winning products, ensuring less waste, reducing the carbon footprint and making life better for families around the globe.

Kelly also leads SC Johnson's global employee communications, including business and human resources/ benefits communications, employee events, a close-circuit broadcast system, a robust intranet and award-winning employee publications such as a global magazine and monthly newspaper.

With Kelly's leadership, SC Johnson has been ranked on FORTUNE magazine's list of best companies to work for in America and one of the top companies for working mothers by WORKING MOTHER magazine. Her responsibilities also include managing the company's global conferences and presentations made by the company's top executives.

In 2014, Kelly was honored to be inducted into the prestigious Bradley University Centurion Society. The Centurion Society was created by the Bradley Board of Trustees to honor outstanding Bradley alumni who have brought national and international credit to the University and for their career achievements in business, public life and their professions.

Kelly serves on the Boards of Directors of the Consumer Specialty Products Association, World Environment Center and American Cleaning Institute. She is the Immediate Past President of the Alliance for Consumer Education Board of Trustees. Previously, she served as Chairman of the Board and as a member of the Executive Committee of the Consumer Specialty Products Association.

Prior to joining SC Johnson in 2000, Kelly owned her own company, managing communication needs for high-profile clients in consumer products, transportation and other industries. Previously, Kelly was Executive Vice President at Edelman Public Relations Worldwide in Washington, DC.

Kelly also served as Director of Public Affairs and Press Secretary to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture during President George H. Bush's administration, as well as Director of Public Affairs and Press Secretary to the U.S. Trade Representative during President Ronald Reagan's administration. She was also Press Secretary to Congressman Joe McDade of Pennsylvania.

Kelly earned her bachelor's degree in journalism from Bradley University. She lives with her husband and two children in Racine, Wisconsin.

Dennis Wilson, Director, Product Stewardship & Sustainability, Saint-Gobain SA
Dennis is the Director of Product Stewardship & Sustainability for Saint-Gobain in North America, the parent company of CertainTeed. Dennis joined CertainTeed/Saint-Gobain in 2007 and has since worked in a variety of operational EHS, product stewardship and sustainability roles. Dennis has a BS in Applied Environmental Health & Safety Sciences (Safety Sciences) from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, an MS in Environmental Protection & Safety Management from St. Joseph's University, an MBA from LaSalle University, and a management certificate in Sustainable Engineering from Villanova University. Dennis' team leads Saint-Gobain North America's process & product sustainability efforts including waste, water, energy, & greenhouse gas reduction as well as product life cycle assessments. Prior to his time at CertainTeed/Saint-Gobain, Dennis held a variety of operations, quality, and regulatory positions in the pharmaceutical, paper and plastics industries.

Marco Ugarte, Sustainability Manager; MillerCoorsAwarded with the 2015 Young Hispanic Corporate Achiever, Dr. Ugarte is accountable for MillerCoors Sustainability Report and orchestrating its underlying 2020 Goals. He manages strategic partnerships involving The Nature Conservancy, The Sustainability Consotrium, and the United Nations Global Compact. Currently serving at the Board of Directors of the APICS Supply Chain Council, Dr. Ugarte is a certified supply chain instructor and speaker at forums such as The White House Council on Environmental Quality, The Association of Climate Change Officers, and The Logistics & Supply Chain Forum.

As entrepreneur, he has received awards from MIT, ASU, Walmart, and NASDAQ. Marco holds a Ph.D. in Sustainability from Arizona State University and several certifications from APICS, The Associaton for Operations Management and ASQ, formerly, the American Society for Quality.

Each year NAEM’s annual conference convenes more than 550 attendees for a three-day showcase of the latest strategies corporate environment, health, safety and sustainability (EHS&S) leaders are using to keep employees safe, minimize their company’s environmental footprint and deliver business value through sustainability programs.